I visited the M Shed first. Think of it as a museum that focuses on Bristol from different angles. As such, you get an overview through random facts and the rather neat postcard contribution system created so that the local residents can offer their views about various areas of Bristol. I am left with the feeling that the city is happening. It's a culture focused on the present with only partial asides to the past.
Next, I visited Arnolfini, another art gallery. A big space with an exhibition that epitomised average. Nothing wrong with it, but just too empty and distant to allow a meaningful dialogue with this viewer.
I went to Bristol Cathedral after this and was amazed as ever by the stained glass windows and sheer majesty of this holy building. The roof structure alone was stunning. Also fortunately as it was Bristol Doors Open Day (and the Cathedral was part of this annual celebration of beautiful architecture etc), there was a sense of energy emanating from the staff, which was catching.
Through a sheer feat of synchronicity, I was also able to enter the Theatre collection of the University of Bristol, which I have been told to tell everyone is open to the public during the week (but not usually on Saturdays). Only open on Saturday because of the aforementioned Bristol Doors Open Day. It includes Stephanie Cole's personal artifacts that she has given to the collection and there was also a small exhibition of shocking productions, which included a small scale stage set of 'Look Back In Anger' from its original run at the Royal Court Theatre in London.
I finally ended up in the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. This reminded me of the V and A. Having said that the art galleries contained an impressive range of works. Also there was a choir on site. Children singing beautifully and adults wondering where their own singing voices had gone.
At some point today, I had some dodgy fish and chips, which may or may not have left me feeling ill, prior to heading for the theatre.
'The Stick House' is being performed in a tunnel network beneath Bristol Temple Meads Station, which has been converted into the Lo-co Klub, a temporary arts venue for a range of forthcoming events. Upon arrival under a viaduct, a small handful of us were wondering why the door wasn't open. Around 6.30 pm, the bar staff arrived and apologised that today's shows had been cancelled owing to the illness of one of the leads (there are three members of cast). The two very friendly bar staff invited us to stay, I did and the other audience members chose to go elsewhere. We just spent time chatting about mutual interests and possibly compiling the weirdest Spotify playlist of all time, taking in lots of sad songs and any other songs that took our fancy. The Lo-co Klub looks as though it will be sticking around for awhile and good luck to Tessa and Rose plus anyone else who works there.
Last day tomorrow, so sleep beckons.
Barry Watt - Saturday 12th September 2015.
Photos.
M Shed.
M Shed on the left with steam train, crane and interesting vessel.
Arnolfini Gallery.
Interior of Bristol Cathedral.
Something about this touched me, maybe because it was created by children.
Exterior of Bristol Cathedral.
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
Exterior of Bristol Cathedral. Something about religious iconography and interesting cloud formations fascinate me.
Afterword.
M Shed is a most delightful museum recounting many fascinating details about Bristol and its residents. Their website is:
http://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/
Arnolfini is an institute of contemporary arts. Their exhibition at the time of my visit did not change my life but it was a space worth visiting:
http://www.arnolfini.org.uk/
Bristol Cathedral is simply lovely:
http://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/
Bristol Doors Open Day appears to be held every year and basically involves a whole range of buildings and spaces opening up to allow visitors to learn more about their histories and/or architecture:
http://www.bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk/
The University of Bristol's Theatre Collection is well worth a visit:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/theatre-collection/about/
'Look Back In Anger' was written by John Osborne and was premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London on 8th May 1956. The play is available from Faber and Faber. For more information on the Royal Court Theatre and its exciting repertoire of plays, please see their website:
http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/
The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery offers an interesting mix of natural history and art:
http://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/
The Victoria and Albert Museum is based in London and tends to put on pretty good exhibitions even if their layouts leave something to be desired from time to time:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/
'The Stick House' is currently being staged at the Lo-co Klub in Bristol. Sadly the one that got away for me:
http://www.raucous.org.uk/whats-next
The Lo-co Klub seems to be spelt differently everywhere you see a reference to it but anyhow, here's some more information about it:
http://invisiblecircus.co.uk/the-loco-klub/
BW
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